Sandis Vilmanis: Playing in NHL Is Unbelievable, but the USA Is No Dreamland
Latvian hockey player Sandis Vilmanis debuted in the NHL last season and became a national team leader, scoring 11 points at the World Championship. He admits that the reality in the USA differs from the dream image.
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Sandis Vilmanis, one of Latvia’s brightest hockey talents, experienced significant milestones in his career this past season. In the 2025/26 season, the 22-year-old forward made his debut in the National Hockey League (NHL), the ultimate achievement for any hockey player. However, Vilmanis does not hide that life in the USA is not as idyllic as it may seem from the outside.
After an intense season in North America, Vilmanis is spending the summer in Latvia, where he gave an interview to TVNET+. In the conversation, he revealed that playing in the NHL is an incredible experience, but the reality in the USA is different – it is not the dreamland many imagine.
National Team Leader
Vilmanis was not just a newcomer in the NHL – he also shone on the Latvian national team. At the World Championship in Switzerland, he became the team's offensive leader, recording 11 points (4 goals and 7 assists) in the tournament. That allowed him to tie the Latvian national team record for most points in a single championship. His performance helped Latvia achieve a historic sixth place.
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